The WASP, September, 2000

WASP The Warren Astronomical Society Paper

Volume 32, Number 9

September, 2000

Astro Chatter
by Larry Kalinowski

The Fourth Annual Kensington Star Party went off without a hitch, thanks to all the clubs that participated for the event. Astronaut Lousma gathered the biggest group of listeners but that was expected. The sky co-operated [continued]

The SwapShop
by Larry Kalinowski

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Macomb Meeting Minutes
byJohn Herrgott

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New Members
by Joe Van Poucker

WAS List Server
by Doug Bock

I've setup an email list server for the WAS. Whenever any subscriber sends an email to the list, everyone who has subscribed will automatically receive the message through their email. You can think of it as something like a broadcast.

To subscribe to this list server, send an email to majordomo@www.boonhill.net. In the body (not the subject) of the email, type these two lines:

subscribe was
end

After you've subscribed you can send email to the list by addressing it to was@www.boonhill.net. Each person subscribed to the list will receive your message.

Pictures from the WAS Picnic

Astro Chatter, continued

and the evening revealed the comet Linear S4 on both nights. The best view being shown on Dave D'Onofrio's portable STV integating station by SBIG. The digitized picture was piped into a large 20 inch monitor and many gathered around to see the solar system's latest visitor. Even though the predicted magnitude was about 4.0, earlier in the year, our visitor checked in around sixth or seventh magnitude on Saturday night. About fifty youngsters gathered around telescopes to get their observing lists checked off, so they could qualify for astronomical stickers and star charts from Rider's Hobby Shop vendor table that night. I wasn't there on Friday night but with the weather about the same, I imagine participation was about the same. If you missed this fourth annual event, you missed a grand time.

It looks as though Comet Linear S4 is performing far better than expected. On July 24, just before the comet reached perihelion, the nucleus began to elongate. That is the first positive indication of a breakup. Small chunks of matter where seen falling away even days before by a professional astronomer named Mark Kidger. Telegrams and CCD photos to Brian Marsden, the head comet man in the US, prepared the rest of the astronomical community for the news. Unfortunatly, the breakup made the visual magnitude dimmer. A detailed discription of the breakup is given by Kidger on the Internet. You can also find additional pictures of the break-up by surfing for the latest Hubble pictures.

The program MoonCalc, as discussed on page 70 of the September,2000 issue of Sky And Telescope, is available from the club's library. If you like Moon data, this program has plenty, including a section that calculates how early a crescent can be viewed from your part of the world. The price is a dollar for all club members.

The August computer meeting will be held at Gary Gathen's home on Thursday, the 24th. His address is 21 Elm Park. Three blocks south of the I-696 expressway and about half a block west of Woodward in Pleasant Ridge. The September computer meeting will be on the 28th. You can reach Gary at 248-543-3366 for further information.

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The SwapShop

This is a new column for those who are interested in buying, trading or selling items. Call 810-776-9720 (larrykalinowski@yahoo.com) if you want to put an item for sale or trade in this section of the WASP. The ad will run for six months. The month and year the ad will be removed, is also shown.

FOR SALE. CD Rom drive, 2X, brand new in original package. Includes audio cable. $15. 810-757-4741. (1-01).
FOR SALE. 14,400 baud, external, modem by Practical Periphirals. RS232 cable and AC pwer supply included. $15.00 810-776-9720. (1-01).
FOR SALE. Questar 3.5 inch Maksutov-Cassagrain. Five eyepieces, many accessories, including computer. $2,975 firm. 810-735-9313. johnherrgott@earthlink.net. (11-00).
FOR SALE. Miyauchi B5-77, 20X77, semi-apochromatic, astronomical binoculars with eyepieces inclined 45 degrees. $1200 new, asking $675 firm. 810-735-9313.(11-00).
FOR SALE. Deep Sky 99, a starchart and database program featuring the Hubble Guide Star catalouge. $25. 810-776-9720.(11-00).
FOR SALE. Two computer speakers, 80 watts. Volume, bass and treble controls. $15. 110 volt AC. 810-776-9720. (11-00).
FOR SALE. Exposure guides for the Sun, Moon, Planets, solar and lunar eclipses and more. Extinction tables. Calculating prime focus, afocal, negative and positive projection F ratios. ISO's from 4 to 3200. Seventy-eight pages. $5.00, postpaid. 810-776-9720. (11-00).

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Macomb Meeting Minutes

Our club president, Blaine McCullough, opened the meeting with an introduction of guests and prospective members. Officer reports followed with a treasury report that the club has $3396 in funds available. Marty Kunz extended an invitation to all present to participate in giving club programs. No reports were given by the club secretary or observatory chairman.
Blaine spoke about the upcoming SMURFS event and also noted that the annual holiday and awards banquet is set for this December. Dave D'Onofrio reviewed the agenda for the public star party to be held at Kensington Metro Park.
Aurora and solar activity were reported by several members with white light phenomena being observed by Marty Kunz. Marty also gave the evening's program on plotting comet positions on star charts.

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New Members

New Members for July 2000: Matthew Fogarty of Warren, MI

W.A.S. Anniversaries for September 2000: